Channahon coach held in sexual assault case

July 10, 2002|By Stanley Ziemba, Tribune staff reporter.

Bond was set at $100,000 Tuesday for a Channahon Junior High School girls basketball coach who prosecutors said sexually assaulted a 14-year-old student. Kevin Williams, 42, of the 25000 block of Liberty Lane in Channahon, is charged with one count each of aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to Will County State's Atty. Jeff Tomczak.

Williams, a part-time coach who briefly served as a Channahon Elementary School District 17 board member, was caught engaging in sexual acts with the teenage girl in a deserted baseball dugout in Richland Park in Crest Hill, a suburb of Joliet, on July 2, Tomczak said.

A private investigator, hired by Williams' wife to trail her husband, videotaped the incident and turned it over to the Illinois State Police, who began an investigation, Tomczak said.

State police arrested Williams on Monday and took him to the Will County Jail. His bond was set by Associate Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Kallan, who also ordered that Williams stay away from anyone under the age of 18 should he be released on bond.

If convicted, Williams, a father of two, would face a mandatory 4-year prison term and could be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years, Tomczak said. Williams is alleged to have used his position of "trust and authority" over the girl to coerce her into sexual activity.

Williams has been placed under suicide watch at the jail, according to Will County state's attorney's office spokeswoman Laura Amato.

Williams has served as a basketball coach for various levels of boys and girls teams at District 17 schools since the fall of 1997, when he was appointed as the 6th grade girls basketball coach at Channahon Middle School, according to District Supt. Lynn Krizic. He works for an investment firm in Shorewood, another Joliet suburb, and does not teach at the school, she said.

Krizic said a routine criminal background check was run on Williams when he was appointed to coach in the district and revealed no prior criminal activity.

"Prior to being contacted by police Monday night, the district's school board and administration had no knowledge of the allegations against Mr. Williams," Krizic said. "In addition, the board and administration had received no complaints regarding inappropriate conduct on his part.

"The board, administration and the entire Channahon school community are deeply saddened by this news, and we extend our sympathy to the families of those involved," Krizic said.

Williams served one month on the District 17 school board last year. He had to resign because board members are prohibited from working for pay for the district, she said.

Krizic said Williams' appointment for continued employment has not yet come before the school board, and no decision has been made on any possible action against him.

"At this point, we're cooperating fully with law enforcement officials in their investigation of the matter," she said. "We're also offering counseling services to those students and parents who feel a need for such services."

The school district serves about 1,500 students from Channahon and nearby Minooka.

Tomczak said his office is attempting to determine if Williams was involved with any other underage students.